Speaking ahead of Christie's Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art auction in Dubai on October 23-24, Jeha added that it is important to make a personal connection with a piece before buying.

"We always encourage potential clients to ask if the art work moves them in some way. First follow your heart and then buy with your head," he said.

It is advice that we at Paul Fraser Collectibles agree with. Because if an artwork moves you, the strong likelihood is that it will move others as well.

And with price appreciation often a long-term game, it is vital that one derives pleasure from ownership rather than simply the potential profit.

In 2005 Christie's became the first international auction house to set up a permanent base in the Middle East, and its Dubai headquarters was its fastest-growing auction house in 2010, with a 153% increase in sales.